Central Southland
Sam Deuchrass

Nature

Central Southland boasts many natural attractions. The Oreti River flows through the region, offering plenty of trout fishing and swimming opportunities – with a particularly popular paddling spot located under the bridge at Lochiel. The Winton Walkway is a 9km trail encircling the whole Winton township and includes scenes of native bush, the Winton Stream, and rural farm land.

The Ivy Russell Reserve is a quaint nature park with a creek that children (and dogs) love. The reserve is named after Ivy Russell, who, in 1919, became the first women Town Clerk in New Zealand – holding the position for 35 years.

The Anzac Oval, a small park on Winton’s main street, is a favoured picnic spot for both locals and visitors. It is home to Winton’s war memorial gates, a band rotunda, a spreading elm tree that is listed on the New Zealand Historic and Notable Tree Register, a picnic table made in 1976 by woodwork students to commemorate the Winton Centennial, and beautiful gardens.